Ranchi, Feb. 13 -- The Jharkhand high court on Friday stayed the Ranchi district administration's demolition drive in the Madhukam area, where 12 houses in Jay Prakash Nagar were razed amid protests as part of an official exercise to restore disputed land claimed as tribal property, an advocate familiar with the matter said.

The order came from the court of justice Rajesh Shankar after affected parties, Shanti Devi & others and Mohan Sao & others, knocked on the court's door alleging irregularities in the administrative action.

"The administration started the action after landowner Mahadeo Oraon had filed a contempt petition stating that the administration was not restoring his land despite a tribal dispute court order in his favour. Th...